SPRING FLOWER SHOW.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 186, 10 September 1909, Page 4

SPRING FLOWER SHOW.

Tho interior of St. Mary' Hall yesterday afternoon and evening was a glorious .blaze of imignilicent spring llowerj, ■wJiilo the atmosphere was redolent of lovely perfiime. The occasion was the holding ui St. Mary's annual spring llower and buil> show. Although very rough weather has been experienced during tho past few weeks there was i x hick i;f blooms, am! the standard was <'<lti.il. i' not superior; to last year's .show. At. there were several couuterthe attendance was large, ami iii" mo*! casual observer became an eniliiihiast in horticulture as he or she viewed the magnificent array set on' In ihe decorative Üble eoinpetitim fifteen tables wen; entered, twelve [jc adults and three for girls. In the for mer Miss 13. Kvaus' rlisplav of scarf-l Japonica was awarded lirst prize; .1. Curtis (bliv Argentine peas) being second, and -Miss .M. -Matthews .ii>» color and purple) third. Jn the girN' class .Miss M. Corkill was lirst and .Miss F. Bayly second. Collection of cut llowers.—.Miss Devon is'h 1. Mrs. Burgess ■>. .Mrs. Yickerv's exhibii in this class was also particu larly good.

The best amateur collection in Hie show was that of Mr. Stanley Shaw This exhibit was indeed a magnificent i>ne. Tiie 'hyacinths alone were worth going a day's journey to see, the size and variety of the 'bloonw demonstrating what can be produced in this climate with proper care. These blooms were all grown in tho open, and constituted one of the features of ta<' show. Mrs. 11. 'Weston's 'exhibit of large violets was much a:bove the average. Mr. French's entry of bulbs was alf-'o a very fine one.

Bouquets.—-Girls: Miss CMribel Pellew 1. Mi«s Doris Spencer 2. Boys: Master Jack Cottier 1.

Baskets.—'Miss Ethel Spencer 1, Miii Margaret Corkill 2. Sprays—Miss M. Corkill 2.

Buttonholes. —(Jills: "Miss P. Bayly 1. Miss Flora Corkill 2, Miss Olivia Shaw 3. Boys: Master Gordon Salt 1, Mast r Willie Webber 2, Master Colin Bayly 3. Agricultural bouquet (made up o! cauliflowers, turnips, onions, etc.). — Ma-ter Willie Webber 1. Master Tom Corkill 2. Master G. Bavlv 3.

A very choice lot of pot plants i'n bloom} was shown by Miss Devenish chief amongst which were primulas, cyclamen. and hoop narcissi. Mr. Cattley acted as judge in the pot plums and collections, the lloral decorations hejng judged by Mrs. H. Fookeand Miss Percy Smith. J. K. Duncan's Westown Nursery w-ts well represented. The principal exhibii was daffodils and narcissi, including 500 blooms of the Princeps variety. Oth'-r Varieties shown imduded—eodliiw and, creams. Sir Watkin, Alba Aurea an I Albicous. The rest of the entry was made up of choice anemones, violets, freestas, heatlis, double azaleas, shrub and pot plants. This exhibit was the largest in the show. Morshead Nursery Company had on view a choice array of daffodils and narcissi, including the Gwyther, Sir Watkin, Prince,ps, Aurantius, M. J. Berkley and other choice doubles. A collection of about 20 camelias was a feature of the entry, one of these—Mathotiana — being a very Urge and richly colored bloom.'.One particularly fine heath, t-ie Cavendish, was conspicuous. Some of the dowering shrub:,- shown were including the Andromeda, llarclenbergia Ovata Rosa (pink) and Adenandra Uniflora.

The exhibit from Cooper's Nursery (Wellington) included some splendid specimens of carnations. These blooms were large, delicately colored, and had a beautiful perfume. A bloom that was viewed with much interest was th? Ranmmculas. The upper petals of this queer-Hooking Rjluom a d-ejlic-ate green, with the under petal*' red. Included in the exhibit were large double anemones, bulbs, and other choice Howers and shrubs.

The appointments of the show wero excellent, and the committee and painstaking secretary (Mi.-' Diw.iUh) are to b<> complimented upon the success achieved. During the afternoon and evening the refreshment tables were well patronised. A musical programme was submitted in I he evening and much appreciated by ihe lurge number present.